A Family for the Child in Disguise (Preview)

Chapter One

Spring, Wolf Creek, Missouri, 1880

The cry of pain lingered in the air, followed by heavy panting and groaning. It was a low, desperate sound. Winifred Lawson gripped the pail of water she’d been carrying as an uneasy feeling crept down her spine.

A little girl sat in the living room, playing with a few wooden toys. Her hair was neatly plaited, and her rosebud mouth was pursed in concentration. She glanced up at Winifred, her dark eyes revealing nothing.

“Is that for my mama?” the girl asked.

Winifred nodded. “We’re taking good care of her, don’t you worry.”

“It sounds like it hurts.” A furrow formed between the girl’s eyebrows as she stared at Winifred, almost daring her to tell the truth.

“It does, but it will be worth it when she’s got her new baby in her arms,” Winifred said, choosing her words carefully.

The little girl seemed hesitant but turned back to her toys. Winifred lingered in the doorway, keeping an eye on the child. She wished she could say more to put the girl at ease, but she couldn’t find the right words. And if she said too much, she might scare the child more.

Another pained cry emanated from inside the doctor’s room, drawing Winifred away from the living room.

The scent of carbolic and sweat filled the air. During the past few years of working as a nurse, the smell had become so familiar that she hardly noticed it anymore. However, when she walked into the room, a new smell registered in her mind.

Blood.

Winifred sped up her steps, peering over Doctor Grant’s shoulder at the woman on the bed.

The woman, Elizabeth Carpenter, had her eyes clenched shut as she braced against the pain. She held onto the mattress for dear life, her chestnut hair soaked through with sweat. The room was dark and murky, with only a few lanterns placed near Doctor Grant’s stool.

The curtains had been drawn to keep the bad air out, but Winifred was convinced that breathing in the stifling air was worse for the patient. However, she was only a nurse, so her opinion didn’t count.

“Don’t just stand there, girl,” Doctor Grant barked. His sleeves were rolled up to the elbow, and his gray hair was stuck to his forehead. “Make yourself useful or get out!”

“Here,” Winifred said evenly, placing the pail of water next to him and pulling the clean rags from her apron. “I got the water and rags you asked for.”

He shot her a glare sharp enough to cut glass. Elizabeth had been there when Winifred had arrived that morning. Her pains had started sometime during the night, and Doctor Grant had been working with her ever since.

It was already midday, and there was no sign of the child yet. Labor could take days, so it wasn’t time to worry, but Winifred had a bad feeling about the situation.

“Please…” Elizabeth whimpered, causing them both to look at her in shock. “My Caroline… My daughter…”

“Concentrate, woman!” Doctor Grant snapped. “Get this one out then think about the other one.”

Winifred pursed her lips and went to Elizabeth’s bedside. She took hold of the woman’s hands. “She’s just in the front room. When I left her, she was playing.”

As she spoke, Elizabeth’s eyes widened, and she looked at Winifred with something akin to recognition.

Winifred hadn’t had a chance to talk to Elizabeth yet. Usually, when she was preparing the patients for birth, she was able to explain to them what to expect, especially regarding Doctor Grant. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to do that yet.

Elizabeth grasped her wrist with surprising strength, staring meaningfully up at Winifred.

“Please…” she whispered. “I need to ask you something.”

Winifred didn’t say anything at first. She was hardly surprised by Elizabeth’s request. A few years ago, someone had told Winifred that when soldiers marched off for battle, they were often overcome by the intense desire to put their affairs in order, in case they didn’t return. While women didn’t fight with guns, every mother faced the battle of childbirth. When faced with that fight, many women got the sudden urge to settle certain matters they’d been putting off.

She had heard many strange confessions uttered on the birthing bed.

“Doctor Grant, you’ve been at this for hours,” Winifred said, glancing over at the doctor. “Wouldn’t you like a break? I made some coffee in the kitchen.”

The doctor glared at her, his small eyes narrowing behind his half-moon spectacles. “I can’t leave a patient in distress.”

This surprised Winifred. Doctor Grant usually didn’t stay for the entire birthing process. He’d come in at the end to make sure that everything was all right, allowing Winifred to take care of the patient during labor.

“I’ll take care of her,” Winifred said, offering him a small smile. “You need to be in top shape. It doesn’t look like this baby’s got any plans to move.”

Doctor Grant ignored her and continued working. Elizabeth shot Winifred a desperate look, but Winifred shook her head lightly. After a few minutes, Doctor Grant stood up and stalked out of the room.

The air immediately felt lighter with him gone.

“You ain’t… from here.” Elizabeth squeezed Winifred’s hand.

“No, I’m not.”

It had been a couple of years since Winifred had moved, but people still identified her as different. They seemed to sense straight away that she wasn’t from Missouri.

“Me too…” Elizabeth said. She grimaced in pain, her body going tense as she squeezed Winifred’s hand. As soon as the contraction had passed, she looked up at Winifred with a clear gaze. “Hope Springs, Montana.”

Winifred’s chest tightened as she stared down at Elizabeth in shock.

“I … have family out there,” Elizabeth said. “If anything happens… Please… Take her. Go West. Last I heard… She was still in Montana. Married now. Take Caroline. Run.”

“You’ll be all right,” Winifred said soothingly, shifting her weight as she avoided Elizabeth’s eyes.

The very last thing she wanted was to return to her former home in Montana, even if Missouri wasn’t the place she wanted to be.

“You need to keep her safe,” Elizabeth whispered, a wild look crossing her face.

“I’m sure Caroline’s father won’t appreciate me taking her,” Winifred pointed out.

A dark look crossed Elizabeth’s face. “He’s the one she needs protecting from.”

“Winnie!” Doctor Grant called.

Winifred winced. She hated when people shortened her name.

“Where’s that darned coffee you promised me?” he shouted.

She rolled her eyes. The coffee was always in the same place.

“I left it on the counter,” Winifred responded. “There by the door, just below the cups.”

“Don’t tell him,” Elizabeth said. “Don’t tell that doctor… He works for my husband. You need to keep Caroline far away from that man… He’s—”

Elizabeth arched her back as another wave of pain gripped her body.

“Where?” Doctor Grant asked.

“On the left side of the door!” Winifred called, trying to keep her frustration from seeping into her voice. “Below the cups.”

She grabbed a rag, dipped it in the water, and wrung it out before gently wiping Elizabeth’s forehead.
“I don’t see it.” A petulant note crept into Doctor Grant’s voice.

“I’ll come look now, please give me a moment,” Winifred said, looking over at the door.

“Why isn’t it— Oh, wait. I found it. Don’t move it again!”

Winifred clenched her eyes shut in frustration.

“Promise me!” Elizabeth cried, grabbing hold of Winifred’s other hand.

Winifred looked down at her in shock before nodding emphatically. She didn’t realize she’d done it until Elizabeth slumped back against the pillows, her face slack with relief.

Promises were heavy things, especially when they involved desperate people. If Elizabeth wasn’t confident that she’d be all right, then Winifred worried about what lay ahead.

“There aren’t any clean cups!” Doctor Grant shouted. “Why aren’t there any clean cups? When last did you do the dishes, woman?”

“I put a clean cup next to the coffee pot, sir,” Winifred said.

“Oh… Why didn’t you just pour the coffee and bring it to me? Is there milk?”

“Don’t give up just yet,” Winifred told Elizabeth, ignoring her boss. “You’ll be just fine.”

Elizabeth’s fingers loosened on Winifred’s wrist. “You have no idea, do you?”

Winifred’s eyebrows rose as she looked over her shoulder, worried that Doctor Grant might overhear them.

“No idea about what?”

“My husband is Hugh Carpenter,” Elizabeth said, a shudder running through her. “He’s… He’s a bad man. And if this baby ain’t a boy… You didn’t see him when Caroline was born. I thought he would kill the both of us. If something happens…”

Dread filled Winifred as she stared down at Elizabeth.

“Winnie! Get out here. Now.”

There was no room for argument in Doctor Grant’s tone. Winnie grimaced as she squeezed Elizabeth’s hand and hurried out of the room. When she stepped outside, the air seemed to grow heavier.

A man stood in the middle of the waiting room. He was so tall that the top of his head reached the ceiling. He took up so much space that it was impossible to see anything else.

The sound of men talking loudly and laughing emanated from outside. She caught sight of a few of them through the window and her stomach turned. The men had been riding rough. Their skin was caked in dirt, and they had a certain weariness about them. That didn’t stop them from making a terrible noise outside while Elizabeth was fighting to bring life into the world.

A sense of unease surrounded Winifred, assuring her that trouble wasn’t far off.

When the man in the middle of the room removed his hat, she caught sight of a long, thin scar running alongside his face. Caroline was hunched in the corner, her lips pressed tightly together as she stared at her shoes. Winifred longed to go over to the girl and hug her.

“How’s my wife?”

Hugh Carpenter.

It was as if Elizabeth had summoned him through her desperate pleas. Winifred wasn’t sure what to say, so she looked over at Doctor Grant.

“Winnie here is my nurse,” Doctor Grant said, avoiding her gaze. “She’s been with Elizabeth all morning.”

Winifred swallowed hard. He was passing the buck to her, and the implication was clear. If anything happened to Elizabeth, it would be her fault.

Hugh never took his eyes off Winifred. They were as hard as a rock and showed no warmth.

Winifred had two options before her. She could lie and say that all was well, or she could be honest with the man and risk his wrath. Her eyes flickered to the Colt he wore on his belt. The handle was smooth from use.

“Speak!” Hugh barked, causing her to jump in fright.

“Elizabeth is distressed,” Winifred admitted. Lying would only cause trouble further down the line. “The birth is taking longer than expected. And she’s… anxious to provide a son.”

She wasn’t sure why she added the last part. Only that she hoped that if Hugh had any love in his heart for Elizabeth, he might assure her that he would care for her no matter the gender of the child.

He clenched his jaw so hard that a muscle ticked in his cheek. Her hopes were dashed before he ever said a word.

Hugh stepped closer to her, and she fought the urge to recoil. He smelled of tobacco and horses, the scent was undercut by something sharp and unpleasant. It took her a moment to recognize it as gunpowder. He must have fired his weapon recently.

Instead of looking right at him, Winnifred lowered her gaze and looked at his boots. They were scuffed and scratched. A rust-brown droplet decorated one boot, and she shuddered as she imagined where it had come from.

“Call me when the child arrives,” Hugh said.

The floor creaked beneath him as he turned to leave. Winifred glanced over at Caroline. The child was curled into a ball, mumbling something beneath her breath.

“You can count on us, Mr. Carpenter,” Doctor Grant said in an upbeat tone.

Hugh paused, tilting his head before looking around the room. His eyes swept past Caroline as if she wasn’t there. “You’d better pray it’s a boy.”

There was enough menace in his tone to make it clear what would happen if Elizabeth gave birth to a girl. Winifred clenched her fists by her sides. It was barbaric. Had they been transported to less civilized times?

Her heart raced as she tried to keep calm.

The door slammed shut as Hugh stalked outside. Caroline jumped, but she never made a sound. As soon as her father was gone, she covered her face with her hands and began crying.

The sound of whooping and jeering came from outside. A few moments later, hooves thundered against the ground as the gang took off.

Winifred moved toward the girl, but Doctor Grant motioned for her to keep moving. She swallowed hard as she turned back to the room.

Elizabeth’s eyes were wide as Winifred returned.

“He was here,” Elizabeth said in a pained tone. “What did he do?”

Before she could respond, another contraction ripped through Elizabeth and Doctor Grant came rushing in. “No use in gossiping, focus on getting this healthy boy out.”

Winifred took a step back, glancing between the two of them as Elizabeth’s words solidified in her mind.

“Get to work, Winnie!” Doctor Grant snapped.

The next few hours passed by in a blur. With each passing contraction, Elizabeth’s breaths grew shallower and her grip weaker. When Doctor Grant left to get something to eat, Elizabeth waved Winifred over.

“Please… Caroline.”

Winifred didn’t argue. Elizabeth’s skin was waxen, and her bleeding hadn’t stopped. Anyone with eyes could see that something wasn’t right. And Winifred wasn’t going to deprive Elizabeth of the chance to see her daughter.

She darted to the door and peeked through, first scanning the room for any sign of Doctor Grant. Once she was certain he wasn’t near, she looked over at Caroline who was busy rocking herself back and forth on the rocking chair.

“Caroline? Your mama wants to see you.”

Caroline, a tiny thing who was scarcely bigger than a toddler, sprang up and bolted into the room. Winifred lagged behind with a lump of emotion in her throat.

Tears filled Elizabeth’s eyes as she held Caroline tight.

“What’s this, mama?” Caroline asked, holding up a locket that Elizabeth had pressed into Caroline’s hand.

“It’s my picture, darling,” Elizabeth croaked. “This way you’ll always have me close.”

“It’s pretty,” Caroline said, tilting her head slightly.

“Here.” Elizabeth slipped the chain around Caroline’s neck. “Whenever you’re sad, hold it tight and remember… I love you with my whole heart.”

“What is the child doing here?” Doctor Grant boomed from the doorway.

Caroline gasped and clung to her mother, and Winifred rushed forward to take the girl out.

“Why did you let her in here?” Doctor Grant snapped. “Is this your first day on the job?”

Winifred kept her head down as she ushered Caroline away. The little girl strained to get back to her mother, but Winifred kept a firm hold on her shoulder.

“Come on, Caroline,” Winifred said as gently as she could. “Let’s give your mama some room.”

When Winifred returned, Elizabeth was tense again, trying to hold back a cry of pain. Hours passed, marked by the doctor’s gruff commands, and Elizabeth’s weakening cries. Finally, Elizabeth gave one last, powerful push, and the room was filled with silence.

Winifred strained her ears, waiting for a cry that never came. She knew the truth of the situation before Doctor Grant said, “Stillborn.”

The room fell silent for a moment before he let out a quiet exclamation. “Heavens… A boy.”

Elizabeth let out a shuddering gasp, her face as white as a sheet, before falling back on the pillows.

“Get more linen!” Doctor Grant yelled. “She’s bleeding!”

Winifred rushed to do as she was told, running right past Caroline who was curled up on the chair, sobbing quietly. When Winifred returned, Doctor Grant was standing by the open window, staring at the sunset as he wiped his hands on a cloth.

“Fetch the woman’s husband,” Doctor Grant said. “There’s nothing to be done.”

“You’re not even going to try—” Winifred’s hands trembled as she looked over at Elizabeth.

The woman’s chest rose, then fell… and stayed down. Horror and pity washed through Winifred, and she blinked rapidly to keep her tears from falling.

“Do as you’re told, girl.”

Winifred went to Elizabeth and began trying to stem the flow of blood, ignoring the doctor’s orders. Doctor Grant huffed in frustration and left, but Winifred kept working. Elizabeth’s breaths became shallower and further apart. Finally, they stilled.

“Oh no…” Winifred pressed her hands against her eyes as tears leaked out.

She stood there for a long moment, her heart beating painfully against her ribs as the smell of iron threatened to choke her.

When she walked out of the room, she spotted Caroline curled up on the seat, sleeping. Winifred couldn’t bring herself to wake the girl and tell her the terrible news, so she went to stand outside and get some air.

Doctor Grant was sitting on his rocking chair, sucking on a pipe. When she let the door close, he raised his bushy eyebrows at her.

“I had my doubts about hiring a woman,” Doctor Grant said in his gravelly voice.

Winifred tensed, clasping her hands in front of her.

“I figured that if I couldn’t find a man to fill the position, then an obedient, trained woman would do. It seems I was wrong.”

“Pardon me?” Winifred’s chest tightened.

“Is the mother dead?” Doctor Grant asked. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, and he still had blood staining his hands. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from his reddened hands.

“Yes, sir.”

“Did your efforts save her?”

“No… sir.” Winifred nearly pointed out that at least she tried. At least she hadn’t given up. It was the very least they could have done for their patient.

“You should have listened to me,” Doctor Grant said, narrowing his eyes at her. “Instead, you wasted your time. What’s going to happen the next time I need you to follow orders, but do what you want instead? You’re lucky she was already dying this time. Next time, your insolence could mean the difference between life and death.”

Winifred clenched her fists as she gritted her teeth.

“Pack your things,” Doctor Grant said, standing up abruptly.

“What?” Winifred’s lips parted in shock.

“Pack your things,” Doctor Grant growled. “I want you gone by the time I get back.”

“Sir?” Winifred stepped forward, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. “I don’t… Please, I need this job…”

“You should have thought about that before you crossed me,” Doctor Grant snapped. “I ain’t arguing with you. Just be glad that I ain’t letting Hugh Carpenter deal with you. Although, I’ll be sure to let him know who’s responsible for the deaths of his wife and son. Get gone, or you’ll regret it.”

Winifred’s mouth dried as she ran a hand through her hair. “That’s not fair! It’s not my fault!”

Doctor Grant leveled her with a hateful glare. “It sure ain’t my fault.”

The truth of the situation hit her square in the face. He was always planning on blaming her if things went wrong. That’s why he had called her out to meet Hugh Carpenter. She was his scapegoat, and no amount of pleading was going to change that.

Fear made her limbs go cold then numb. It was as if she was already staring down the barrel of Hugh’s Colt.

What was she supposed to do now? There was no way to defend herself against Hugh’s fury. She shuddered as she remembered his cold gaze on her.

Doctor Grant snorted as he lifted himself off his chair. “You should be grateful I’m warning you.”

Winifred swallowed hard. She was feeling anything but grateful.

“What about the girl?” Winifred asked as Doctor Grant walked away, presumably to inform Hugh Carpenter of his loss. “Elizabeth’s daughter. Caroline.”

Panic clawed its way up Winifred’s throat, but she couldn’t run away and leave Caroline all alone.

He paused and glanced over his shoulder. “That’s not my problem. Her father will decide what to do with her.”

“You can’t…” Winifred shook her head emphatically. “Elizabeth didn’t want her husband to take the child.”

Doctor Grant ignored her as he continued walking.

Winifred swallowed hard as she glanced back at the house. Her mind worked quickly to assess the situation. She had no job left, and nowhere to go. If Hugh decided he wanted revenge, he’d set his sights on her. She had to get out of town. Quickly.

Thankfully, she still had some savings and her qualifications. It would be difficult to get another job without a letter of recommendation, but it wouldn’t be impossible. Since she had no one depending on her, she could go anywhere she wanted to.

A part of her was glad that she didn’t have to work for Doctor Grant anymore, but it was also possible that her next employer would be worse.

Winifred stepped off the porch, but she couldn’t bring herself to keep moving. She chewed the inside of her cheek as she imagined what would happen if Caroline woke up and found her mother dead. What would Hugh Carpenter do when he returned and discovered that his unwanted daughter was the only survivor?

Before she could consider what she was doing, she returned to the sitting room where Caroline was sleeping.

Winifred knelt beside Caroline and gently moved the child’s hair from her face. Caroline’s eyes moved rapidly beneath her lids, and her fingers twitched, as if she was reaching out for something in her dreams. Winifred’s throat tightened. The child would find the world a much colder place when she woke up.

She ducked her head as memories flooded her mind. Winifred knew how quickly things could change. When she was younger, her world had collapsed when her own parents died. How could she leave Caroline to fend for herself?

She’d heard rumors about Hugh Carpenter and his gang. The mere mention of his name was enough to churn her stomach. What would become of the sensitive little girl if she was left in his care?

Perhaps Winifred could honor Elizabeth’s dying wish. The thought filled her with anxiety, but there was no doubt in her mind that she was going to help Caroline. Winifred couldn’t turn her back on someone in need. It wasn’t possible.

She quickly got to her feet and went to Elizabeth’s bags. The young mother had packed a simple overnight bag. Winifred’s heart clenched as she imagined Elizabeth packing the bag, dreaming of her new little baby.

A lump formed in Winifred’s throat as she quickly rifled through Elizabeth’s belongings. If Winifred was going to take charge of Caroline, it would only be so that Winifred could take the child to her surviving relatives. However, in order to do that, she would need information.

Winifred dug through the clothes, uncertain of what she was looking for. Her fingers brushed against the old leather of a Bible, and her heart sped up. The book was enormous, and she flipped the cover open. Faded writing crawled across the first page. Names and dates filled the page, connected by thin spidery lines.

A family tree! Winifred inhaled sharply.

Elizabeth & Hugh Carpenter, married 1874.

Caroline Carpenter, born 1875

Winifred swallowed hard, brushing her fingers over the writing. Her eyes drifted a little higher.

Helen & Benjamin Ward, married 1859

Elizabeth and Emily Ward, born 1861

Winifred stood up and closed the Bible. She had to go to Montana and find Emily Ward. It seemed simple enough.

Where did Elizabeth say she was from again? Hope Springs?

Winifred took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. She had to help Caroline. No one else was going to do it.

“Wake up, Caroline,” Winifred said, shaking the girl’s shoulder.

“Where’s my mama?” Caroline asked, rubbing her eyes with her chubby little fist.

“We need to go, sweetheart,” Winifred said, taking hold of Caroline’s hand. “Your mama asked me to take care of you. Come on.”

“Where’s my mama?” Caroline asked, her brow furrowed in consternation.

Winifred packed a small satchel with a loaf of bread, some preserves, Caroline’s toys, and her shawl.

“Can I see my mama?” Caroline asked, her voice rising slightly.

Winifred bent down in front of the girl and took hold of her shoulders. She looked Caroline right in the eye. “Your mama asked me to take you on a little trip. We need to hurry, though.”

“Before daddy comes,” Caroline whispered, her eyes widening with dread.

Winifred’s chest tightened, and she nodded. She didn’t want to know what Hugh had done to earn his daughter’s fear. One thing was for sure; she wasn’t going to stick around long enough to find out.

***

The stagecoach stopped in the next town by midday. It was only a short walk to a small cafe that smelled of coffee and biscuits. Caroline clung to Winifred’s hand, and looked around her with wide, somber eyes.

Winifred had dressed Caroline in a pair of trousers, and had hidden the girl’s hair beneath a cap.

“May I have two bowls of soup?” Winifred asked the server.

“Sure enough, darlin’.” The woman winked at her before hurrying off to the counter.

Winifred kept a sharp eye out for any trouble. The cafe was small and warm. Two men sat at the table next to theirs, arguing softly as they finished their coffee. Their hair was slicked back, and a shiny travel valise sat on the floor between their feet. When they stood up, they left a newspaper on the table. And as soon as they were gone, Winifred grabbed it and began searching through the wanted section.

She had no idea where she was going, only that she was heading to Montana. Winifred wished she had asked Elizabeth more questions, but she hadn’t had any time or the presence of mind to do so. Her task loomed over her, seemingly impossible. How was she supposed to find Elizabeth Carpenter’s family?

The most pressing matter, however, was her need for funds. Doctor Grant hadn’t paid well, and her meager savings wouldn’t last beyond the long trip back to Montana, especially since she had two mouths to feed.

As she scanned the advertisements, a small square caught her eye.

Wanted: Nurse

Reliable woman of steady temperament sought to assist in caring for the good folk of Raven Valley, Montana Territory. Applicant must be of good character, capable with simple doctoring, and unafraid of hard country life. Room and board provided, modest wage to be discussed upon arrival.

Inquiries may be sent by post to Sheriff Ezra Morrison, Raven Valley Post Office.

She read it twice. The ad seemed too good to be true. If she could get the job, she’d be able to search for Elizabeth’s family and take care of Caroline in the meantime. Nurse postings were rare. She couldn’t believe she’d found one so quickly. Besides, what could be safer than working for a sheriff if they were on the run from a dangerous criminal?

Sure, they needed to get to Hope Springs, but if Hugh came after them, he’d guess that she was going to Hope Springs first. It wouldn’t be too difficult to make that connection. They would need a place to lay low for a while.

“Could I trouble you for a piece of paper and a pencil?” Winifred asked the server when the woman approached with the bowls of soup.

“Of course,” the server said with a friendly smile. “And when you’re done, you can find the post office right across the street.”

Winifred didn’t know what waited for them in Montana, but they had to get there quickly. She wasn’t going to risk getting caught in Missouri, not when Hugh Carpenter was bound to be searching for her.

As Caroline ate, she scratched her head, causing her cap to sit askew. Winifred glanced around worriedly before readjusting the cap. The disguise wouldn’t hold up against scrutiny, but hopefully it would keep Caroline hidden until they got away safely.

Hopefully, Hugh Carpenter would give up on the search, but if not, then Winifred had to hope that Raven Valley was far enough that he’d never think to look for them there.

The server handed Winifred the paper and the pencil.

“What a handsome son you have,” she gushed, patting Caroline’s head.

Caroline cringed back into her seat and pulled her cap lower over her face. She glanced over at Winifred in distress and the server backed away, her brow furrowing.

“He’s real shy,” Winifred said, grimacing apologetically.

The server nodded before walking away, but she kept glancing back at the two of them with a thoughtful expression.

Winifred quickly jotted down her response to the sheriff’s advertisement. When she was done, she put a coin on the table for the soup and ushered Caroline out of the restaurant.

Her hand trembled as she handed the letter to the clerk at the post office. She could scarcely believe she was leaving her life in Missouri behind for a complete stranger. However, when she looked down at Caroline, a wave of determination washed over her.

Winifred knew better than most what it was like to be completely alone in the world. Elizabeth had been terrified for her daughter, which meant that Caroline was in terrible danger. If she could do her part to keep the little girl safe, then it was her moral duty to do so.